Barri Gotic

Description:

The Grand Hotel Central Barcelona offers all the comforts of a first-class accommodation, as well as convenient closeness to all the hottest spots in the city. Attractive districts such as Las Ramblas and the Born are just steps away. There is a roof-top pool which is fabulous to look out over the city from.

Our Local Expert Says:

Calle Ferran in the Gotico, has some of the chicest and unique designer stores in the city. Watch your bags though, the Gotico is infamous for theft.

Description:

One of the oldest neighbourhoods in Barcelona, the Gotico remains at the heart of Barcelona's downtown district. Both grungy and trendy, this neighbourhood is filled with small nooks and crannies, bars, cool restaurants, niche shops and eclectic jewelers. Just a stone's throw from the Born and the beach, the Gotico is home to Barcelona's magnificent Cathedral which dates back to 14th century. It is also home to Placa Reial, the most well known square for backpackers as it's home to the ever so popular Kabul Hostel.

Description:

A veritable institution in Barcelona as it boasts an unbeatable central location. From its outdoor tables, you get a great view of Las Rambles and Plaça Catalunya, and this alone makes it worth stopping in for a coffee. After 100 years in business it finally recieved facelift in 1998 when the original building on the same corner was torn down to make way for El Triangle shopping center. Inside and out, it's always full of tourists, students, shoppers and office workers.

Our Local Expert Says:

For everything and anything foreign, check out FNAC department store, right across from the Plaza. It contains all types electronic gadgets, magazines in all languages and also has a nice coffee shop below. Best to go early in the morning to avoid the crowds.

Description:

If coming to Barcelona, you have to frequent Placa Catalunya. One of, if not the most popular plaza in Barcelona, this 5000 meter square is the cross roads between where the old city and the new city meet. Sitting at the top of the Gotico and Raval and leading into the Eixample and Gracia neighbourhoods, Placa Catalunya is not only a landmark but a gathering point for locals and tourists alike. Hosting outdoor, free concerts and celebrations, Placa Catalunya is right next to El Corte Ingles, FNAC and an abundance of other popular shops and cafes. There's always something happening in the plaza, even if it's just hippies sitting and playing guitar while children run around screaming, it's never dull.

Description:

Font de Canaletes is also referred to as the Rambla de la Font de Canaletes as it is located on the Rambla. The fountain and the street both are very well known in Barcelona as they serve as an active spot of discussions and celebration for the Barça fans. Previously the fountain was fed by small pipes that threw water in a trough. However after the demolition of the old city the fountain was rebuilt and received its water from the Montcada mine. It is also said that 'whoever drinks the water from the fountain will forever keep coming back to Barcelona'.

Description:

This second section of the Ramblas is also known as the Rambla of the Birds, where you will find kiosks selling small animals, mostly birds. There are also chickens, parrots, turtles, hamsters and fish for sale. You'll also see mimes, musicians, clowns and other street performers here. As far as architecture is concerned, there are two impressive baroque buildings: Betlem Church and Virreina Palace.

Description:

This street stretches from Las Ramblas to Plaça de la Catedral. One of the gates to the city of Barcelona was built here. The street is a wonderful mélange of people buying, looking, walking, talking, and generally living life. It is one of the most popular streets for shopping. There are a lot of cafés and milk bars, especially in the Petritxol Street beside Portaferrissa where one can have a hot chocolate and rest a while after shopping. What a charming area!

Description:

You can see how various architectural styles have evolved over the course of the last 1000 years in this singular building. It was originally built on top of the city's Roman walls and you can still see the remains of a Roman defensive wall tower in the façade. The interior is Romanesque with a courtyard in the center. You will notice some Romanesque windows dating from the 13th Century and some Gothic ones dating from the 15th Century. The neoclassical façade was an 18th Century creation by Josep Mas. It is closed to the public.

Description:

This romantic and peaceful square in the heart of the Barri Gòtic, just past the Palau Episcopal, stands on the site of what was a medieval cemetery. It's baroque church was built in 1752 and has an unfortunate history. During the Spanish Civil War a bomb fell on it and killed the 20 children seeking shelter inside. You can still see evidence of the explosion on the church's facade.

Our Local Expert Says:

In summer little flowers from the trees fall and cover this square in a carpet of yellow- can't get any more romantic than this!

Description:

This beautiful Baroque church, built in honor of San Felipe Neri, is located in the Call district of the Barri Gòtic, an area which was once the Jewish district of Barcelona. The church is right in the middle of Plaça Sant Felip Neri, a trapezoid shaped square. This square used to border the edges of the Jewish quarter and was built on the remains of what was once a Jewish cemetery. This is one of the quieter areas of the Gothic Quarter and is reminiscent of other times. Visiting the square is the best way to get into the mood for a visit to the Baroque church, whose facade still shows bullet holes dating back to the Spanish Civil War. In its interior you can still find Baroque details in the moldings, altars, and paintings.

Our Local Expert Says:

The design on the façade indicates this building was the shoe guild. Try to find the shoe-shaped decoration.

Description:

Featuring shoes that fit Barcelona's famous Colon statue, this collection includes footwear as diverse as Roman sandals and modern platform boots, along with cobblers' tools and machinery dating from different periods of history. The shoes for the Colon are so big they gained an entry in the Guinness Book of Records. You'll find this little museum in a medieval house in the old part of town that was once the shoemakers' guild headquarters.

Description:

The Cathedral la Seu is also known as the Cathedral of Santa Eulalia, a saint whose crypt is in the cathedral and is one of Barcelona's patron saints. This place of worship can be viewed from the square in front of it only because several years ago it was decided that an entire block of buildings should be torn down to better appreciate the grandeur of the construction. The interior is a treasure box full of elaborate chapels. The first one on the left displays a marble baptism basin which is said to be the very place where Christopher Columbus brought the first six "Indians" from the Americas to be blessed. An impressive choir, located in the center of the central nave, is a typical characteristic of the interiors of Spanish cathedrals. Walking through the cloister visitors can step over the burial grounds as the tombs of the rich and important line the floor.

Description:

This is one of the finest repositories for art collections from the 1300s to the 1700s. Observe works by the likes of Bartolome Bermejo, Manuel Tremulles, Pere Serafi and Jaume Huguet, and be enthralled. A must-visit for art-lovers.

Description:

This square "of the King" is located at the very end of Carrer Baixada de Santa Clara and boasts of an impressive collection of architectural marvels. It used to just be farmyards, but as time went on it became an important business area and eventually grew into the architecturally beautiful center it is today. In this small space you will find Palau del Lloctinent (Lieutenant's Palace), the Main Royal Palace, the Chapel of Santa Àgata, and Casa Clariana-Padellàs (the city museum). Just next to the museum is the most recent addition to the square, a sculpture by Eduardo Chillida.

Description:

This was once the Counts of Aragón's Barcelona residence. In the Roman period, it was the residence of the local governor, and later belonged to the Visigoth Ataulfo. Its Roman origins can be seen clearly in the façade. Now, after a series of renovations and expansions and a whole slew of Barcelonan counts, we're left with a Gothic building with one tower, called King Martin's Tower, which was used as a viewpoint and observatory.

Description:

This is one of the oldest churches in Barcelona and is dedicated to the two martyrs, Justo and Pastor, who were the subjects of veneration during the 4th century. However, much of the building is part of the later Visigothic construction. Back in the days of Ramón Berenguer "el Viejo" (11th Century), this parish church was used as a cathedral while the Romanesque cathedral was being built. The 14th-century Gothic building work is typical of the church architecture of the time. Relics belonging to both saints are kept in a small chest from the cathedral of Narbonne donated by James I's wife.

Description:

This is the best-preserved Roman relic in the city, and has three columns with Corinthian capitals raised on top of podiums. Built in the 1st Century BCE, it was originally a pagan temple, located in what used to be the center of Roman Barcelona. Don't miss this chance to explore one of the last traces of the Roman town known as Barcino, upon which the medieval city was based. The three columns from the Temple d'August are inside the Centre Excursionista de Catalunya. Admission is free.

Description:

On any given day, one of the most popular questions to be asked while strolling around Barcelona is: Where can I find the Cathedral? One of the most poignant landmarks in the city, this Romanesque architectural vision, is located in the Gothic Quarter (barrio Gotico) of Barcelona and attracts streams of tourists day and night. The Cathedral has been reformed and rebuilt several times and when looking closely it's easy to see the architectural differences from across the centuries. In addition to the Cathedral, the Gotico has a host of incredible Gothic style buildings, small quaint squares and of course the Picasso Museum.

Description:

Whether you take a private tour or delve into Barcelona's wonderful Jewish Quarter on your own, it's definitely worth a visit. Discover the Jewish history and heritage in the most historic neighborhood in the city and even visit the oldest Synagogue which today acts as both small prayer center, but mostly as a museum. If you keep a really close eye while you're strolling through the 'Call' you'll see Hebrew writing embedded into the stones on the walls, which used to surround the Old City. This is a nice half day walking tour which you can combine while seeing the Gothic Quarter and other parts of the Ciutat Vella.

Our Local Expert Says:

To take a peek at the Roman ruins before entering the museum, there's a large photo of it on the outside of the building where the museum gift shop is located.

Description:

A village beneath a city. Barcelona's hidden gem. The Museu d'Historia de la Ciutat digs into the city's past. An audio guide, which is included in the price of admission, explains the history of the approximately 4,000 square meters of Roman ruins which are buried about 20 meters under the current city's street level. These ruins were discovered in the 1920's when the city underwent an urban reformation by cutting into the Gothic Quarter to create a major through street, the Via Laietana.

Description:

Back in the Roman period, this square was (and still is) where important government buildings were found. On one side is the Palace of the Generalitat (the government of the Autonomous Community of Catalonia) and on the other side you can see the City Hall. This square has been witness to some of the most important events in recent Catalan history, such as the Proclamation of the Catalan State in 1931 or the return of Josep Tarradelles from exile in 1977. On Sunday mornings, people come to dance the Sardana, the national dance of Catalonia-it's a very Catalan moment and worth checking out.

Our Local Expert Says:

One of Barcelona's small tourist offices is also in this building.

Description:

Better known as the Ayuntamiento, Casa de la Ciutat is located directly opposite the Generalitat in Plaça Sant Jaume. There are two ways to get in, via the neoclassical-style entrance on Sant Jaume or the Gothic-style entrance on Carrer Ciutat. Both lead you in to the 15th-century Saló de Cent (The Hundred Room) where the city's most important ceremonies and functions (awards ceremonies, book launches, conferences) take place. In the hallway, you'll pass impressive sculptures by Pablo Gargallo, Josep Llimona and Rebull as well one of Ràfols Casamada's paintings dating from 1982.

Description:

Catalunya's regional government and the building where its members sit are both called the Generalitat. When visiting the building, there are two ways in: the 1403 Renaissance entrance in Plaça Sant Jaume, and Pere Joan's 1418 Gothic-style entrance with its relief of Sant Jordi (St. George), patron saint of Catalunya. Once inside, you'll pass through Pau Mateu's attractive Gothic courtyard ( pati dels tarongers) planted with orange trees, under the belfry designed by Pere Ferrer in 1568 to Sant Jordi's chapel, the work of Catalan architect Marc Safont (1432-4). The building is only open to the public on April 23rd, Fiesta de Sant Jordi.

Our Local Expert Says:

There are a couple of ice cream parlors on this street which can save you on a hot day.

Description:

Extending from the Liceu on the Ramblas to Plaça Sant Jaume, this is where Saint James' Church was constructed in the fourteenth century, on the site of an ancient synagogue. Today only the facade of this church remains, the rest of the building dates from the XVI and XVII centuries. The rest of the buildings on the street are from later periods. It has been changed to a walking street, making it much more pleasurable to stroll along. There are a lot of shops and cafés here as well - check out the grocers' shops that still have wonderful display windows like in past.

Description:

This church is located in Calle Ferrán, one of the main streets of the Barri Gòtic,, which connects the important Plaza de Sant Jaume where you can find the Ayuntamiento and the Palau de la Generalitat. This church, which was built at the end of the 19th Century, is on the place where originally the main synagogue of the city was located. The ground plan shows three naves with little chapels on both sides of the aisles. Only the front is left over of the original construction, which dates back to the 15th and 16th Centuries. The Gothic altar is the old high altar of cathedral, which was moved to this church in 1970.

Description:

The name comes from the Basílica de Santa Maria del Pi and from Saint Sant Josep Oriol, who is buried there. The two squares are consecutive; one leads into the other. A sculpture of Àngel Guimerà resides in Sant Josep Oriol-he was a very important writer representative of a Catalan cultural movement called La Renaixença in the 19th century. There are art and food markets here, as well as musicians playing and singing in the street, with people listening to them from the terraces of the many pleasant cafés surrounding the two squares.

Description:

This church takes its name from the huge pine tree outside its main entrance. The church, built between the early 14th and late 16th centuries, resides on one of the most charming squares (of the same name) in the Barri Gòtic. There is always something happening on the square (which in effect merges into two other tiny plazas) whether it is an art market (Sun), a local cheese and artisan fair run by food hawkers (Thurs-Sat), street musicians strutting their stuff, or people milling around the plentiful outdoor cafes.

The church itself is a typical, if not the most complete, example of Catalan Gothic. Its wide, single nave spans nearly two-thirds of the building's length, lending the church its squat appearance. Above the main entrance is a gigantic rose window. Inside it's just as austere, although worth inspecting for the ingenious stone arch that has supported the structure's width for centuries.

Description:

The bar, located next to the Basque restaurant with the same name, is an ideal place to eat. Here, Catalan and Basque cuisines are perfectly combined, and their half-portions are famous for being generous. Most of the dishes on the menu can also be ordered as tapas, accompanied by any of wines from the well-stocked cellar, as well as the typical Basque cider or the txakoli (a slightly sour, typical wine). As for the food, be sure to try the eels, clams and fried baby squid.

Description:

Barcelona's most important theatre was built in an eclectic style by J.O. Mestres and M. Garriga i Rocato to house the city's Operatic Society. Regular opera seasons began here in 1847 and the venue soon overshadowed its main rival, the Teatro Principal. It became a potent symbol of the power and wealth of Catalunya's 19th-century middle-classes, the same people who commissioned all the city's impressive modernist buildings towards the end of that century. There was a devastating fire in the theatre during 1861, an anarchist bomb-attack in 1893, and then it was completely burned down in 1994. The new building stages an exciting programme of operas, concerts and ballets by the world's best performing companies and houses its own symphony orchestra and choir that perform all year round.

Description:

The flower vendors on the Rambla Sant Josep make for a colorful and scented background to the fantastic Mercat de la Boquería. The food market started as much smaller stalls, perhaps on the scale of the flower stalls. It was originally a traveling market dispersed on the outside of the city walls. However the Ramblas soon became a pedestrian throughway and the stalls merged into one official and permanent market on the Rambla Sant Josep in 1827. Several years later the convent of Sant Josep was demolished and the market moved into the space where shoppers continue to buy delicacies today. The variety and quality of fruits, vegetables, sweets, and meats are unbeatable and perfect for a traveler's picnic. At the entrance fruit stands always offer fresh squeezed tropical juices, and throughout the market the best lunches are had at bars and restaurants which serve the freshest ingredients possible...from the stands to their kitchens.

Description:

This section goes from Pla de l'Os to Pla del Teatre. The famous Liceu Theatre and a Joan Miró mosaic can both be seen in this part of Barcelona's Ramblas. The Liceu Theatre was bombed by anarchists at the turn of the 20th Century and there was a devastating fire here in 1995. However, it has now been totally refurbished and is in excellent condition. There is a statue outside the theater in honor of the Catalan playwright, Serafí Pitarra. This area is a mass of contradictions - it is here that the wealthy middle-classes rub shoulders with the poorer folk from the adjoining Raval district. Don't miss Plaça Reial on the left, which has to be seen to be appreciated.

Description:

This charming 19th-century square is just off the Ramblas and Carrer Ferran. It was the site of a Capuchin convent that was demolished in 1835 when Barcelona underwent a period of urban renewal. Architect Francesc Daniel Molina was put in charge of filling the vacant space. Plaça Reial has undergone a number of renovations since then. The street lamps in the shape of trees were designed by Antoni Gaudí. The Las Tres Gracias fountain in the center dates from the end of the 19th Century. Now Plaça Reial is a meeting point for young people on their way to and from the nearby clubs and bars.

Description:

This street runs from Carrer Ferran to Carrer Ample, and is very typical of an old town street, with lots of places to eat, drink and socialize with the hoards of young people that populate them. Picasso found the inspiration to paint his famous Las señoritas de Aviñón in a brothel located here, too; the painting does not refer to the French town, as people often assume. It is an agreeable place for a late-afternoon stroll; it still maintains all the charm it once had centuries ago.

Our Local Expert Says:

After refreshing your soul, refresh your body at taverns and tapas bars lining the nearby Carrer Mercé.

Description:

This is one of the most popular churches in the town because, among other things, it is the home of the Virgen de la Mercè (patron saint of Barcelona). The Barça soccer players credit her with their wins. The original Gothic structure of the basilica was remodeled and enlarged during the 14th and 15th Centuries; however, the definitive redesign of the building was carried out by Josep Mas i Cordal (1775) according to the Italian baroque style. It has just one nave with chapels on each side, a dome crowning the crossing and curved scrolls on the facade. Mass is celebrated at noon and at 7:30p from Monday to Friday, on Saturdays and days before public holidays at noon and at 8p and, on Sundays and public holidays, at 11a, noon and 1p. Sunday mass is held in Spanish at 11a and at 1p and on other days it is held in Catalan.

Description:

This street, found behind Paseo Colón, was one of the most elegant areas of the Barcelona before the construction of La Eixample. This is evident from some of the pretty houses that are still intact; however, decadence did take its toll and the Mercè Street is beginning to show its age. The Basilica of the same name (de la Mercè) is worth a visit. Nowadays, Mercè Street is full of taverns and cozy little nightspots, where you can drink good sangria and Leche de Pantera (a delicious, sweet, milk-based drink; watch out, it's stronger than you might think by the taste). The taverns give a lot of life to la Mercè which, though no longer the elegant area it once was, remains a popular nightlife zone.